Temple Bar: c.1880

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The Temple Bar was built in 1670 from designs by Wren, and dismantled in 1878 when it was moved to Theobalds Park in Herftordshire. In 2001 it was decided to return it to the City, to a position on the north side of St. Paul's Churchyard; the reconstruction was completed in November 2004. The statues shown in the photograph were carved by John Bushnell and are of Charles I and Charles II 'in Roman habits'. Those on the other side are of James I and Anne of Denmark. This is one of a collection of images commissioned by the Society for Photographing Relics of Old London to record historic buildings that were being threatened with demolition.